Detergent composition

Abstract

The invention concerns a detergent composition, comprising: (a) from 0.0005 to 0.5 wt. % of a lipid esterase enzyme; (b) from 2 to 25 wt. % of an alcohol ether sulfate of formula R—(OCH2CH2)nOSO3H where n is from 5 to 15, preferably from 6 to 15, more preferably from 7 to 15, most preferably 7 to 12; and (c) from 0.2 to 50 wt. %, of surfactant other than the surfactant specified in (b); also the invention concerns a domestic method of treating a textile; and the use of an alcohol ether sulfate of formula R—(OCH2CH2)nOSO3H where R is saturated or monounsaturated linear C16 and/or C18 alkyl chain and where n is from 7 to 15, preferably 8 to 12, to reduce the amount of lipase left in fats on garments after the wash.

1 . A detergent composition, comprising:
 a) from 0.0005 to 0.5 wt. %, preferably from 0.005 to 0.2 wt. % of a lipid esterase enzyme;   b) from 2 to 25 wt. %, preferably from 3 to 20 wt. %, most preferably from 4 to 15 wt. % of an alcohol ether sulfate of formula R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n OSO 3 H where R is saturated or monounsaturated linear C16 and C18 alkyl chain and where n is from 5 to 15, preferably from 6 to 15, more preferably from 7 to 15, most preferably 7 to 12;   c) from 0.2 to 50 wt. %, preferably from 1 to 40 wt. %, more preferably from 1.5 to 30 wt. %, even more preferably from 2 to 25 wt. %, most preferably from 4 to 15 wt. % of surfactant other than the surfactant specified in (b).   
     
     
         2 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight fraction of (c) to (b) is from 0.1 to 10, more preferably from 0.1 to 5, even more preferably from 0.1 to 2. 
     
     
         3 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipid esterase is selected from: triacylglycerol lipases, carboxylic ester hydrolases, cutinases, sterol esterases and wax-ester hydrolases and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant (c) comprises one or more surfactants selected from: anionic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof. More preferably the surfactant comprises anionic and nonionic surfactants. 
     
     
         5 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , comprising from 0.5 to 10 wt. %, more preferably from 1 to 8 wt. %, even more preferably from 1.5 to 6 wt. %, most preferably from 2 to 5 wt. % of one or more nonionic surfactants, preferably wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from saturated and mono-unsaturated aliphatic alcohol ethoxylate, preferably selected from C12 to C20 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with a mole average of from 5 to 30 ethoxylates, more preferably C16 to C18 with a mole average of from 5 to 25 ethoxylates. 
     
     
         6 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , comprising from 0.5 to 20 wt. %, more preferably from 1 to 16 wt. %, even more preferably from 1.5 to 14 wt. %, most preferably from 2 to 12 wt. % of additional anionic surfactant other than anionic surfactant (b), wherein the additional anionic surfactant is selected from C12 to C18 alkyl ether carboxylates; citric acid ester of a C16 to C18 monoglyceride (citrem), tartartic acid esters of a C16 to C18 monoglyceride (tatem) and diacetyl tartaric acid ester of a C16 to C18 monoglyceride (datem); and water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulfates and sulfonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; and mixtures thereof; most preferably, the anionic surfactant is selected from C16 to C18 alkyl ether carboxylates; citric acid ester of a C16 to C18 monoglyceride (citrem), tartartic acid esters of a C16 to C18 monoglyceride (tatem) and diacetyl tartaric acid ester of a C16 to C18 monoglyceride (datem) and sulfonates, for example, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.5 to 15 wt. %, more preferably from 0.75 to 15 wt. %, even more preferably from 1 to 12 wt. %, most preferably from 1.5 to 10 wt. % of cleaning boosters selected from antiredeposition polymers; soil release polymers; alkoxylated polycarboxylic acid esters, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A detergent composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the antiredeposition polymers are alkoxylated polyamines; and/or the soil release polymer is a polyester soil release polymer. 
     
     
         9 . A detergent composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the soil release polymer is a polyester soil release polymer. 
     
     
         10 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a laundry detergent composition, preferably a laundry liquid detergent composition. 
     
     
         11 . A detergent composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises one or more enzymes from the group: proteases, alpha-amylases, cellulases, peroxidases/oxidases, pectate lyases, and mannanases, or mixtures thereof, preferably proteases, alpha-amylases, cellulases and mixtures thereof, wherein the level of each enzyme in the composition of the invention is from 0.0001 wt. % to 0.1 wt. %. 
     
     
         12 . A domestic method of treating a textile, the method comprising the step of: treating a textile with an aqueous solution of 0.5 to 20 g/L of the detergent composition of  claim 1 , and optionally drying the textile. 
     
     
         13 . Use of an alcohol ether sulfate of formula R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n OSO 3 H where R is saturated or monounsaturated linear C16 and C18 alkyl chain and where n is from 5 to 15, preferably from 6 to 15, more preferably from 7 to 15, most preferably 7 to 12, to reduce the amount of lipase left in fats on garments after the wash.